Have you ever heard about a Disneyland castle in Washington, D.C.? Well, it turns out that there’s no theme park located near the U.S. capital, but a viral TikTok recently left many people wondering about the possibility of a Disney park in the area.
Earlier this month, a TikTok video from @kodhizera went viral, showing three golden and white spires rising above a highway in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. “First time living in the DMV,” the TikToker wrote. “I didn’t know there was Disneyland here?? Why nobody ever told me that?”
@kodhizera Why nobody ever told me that? #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #maryland #dmv #washingtondc #disney #disneyland #disneyworld
The video quickly gained attention, amassing nearly 100,000 likes and over 1.1 million views. However, despite the excitement and confusion it caused, many locals stepped in to clarify what the spires actually represent. The stunning golden spires are part of the Washington D.C. Temple, a landmark and religious site that’s not affiliated with Disney in any way. The Washington D.C. Temple is the 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and has been a fixture on the Capital Beltway since it opened in 1974.
Though the temple is not operated by Disney, it has become a part of local legend. In 1974, while promoting their production of “The Wizard of Oz,” a group of schoolgirls used wadded newspaper to embed the message “Surrender Dorothy” on an overhead bridge near the temple. The sign was eventually removed, but the phrase stuck, and locals began referring to the Washington D.C. Temple as “Oz.” The phrase “Surrender Dorothy” has been spray-painted on the bridge several times over the years.
TikTok commenters couldn’t help but joke about the costs associated with visiting the Washington D.C. Temple, comparing the Mormon tithing tradition (which LDS members must do to get a “temple recommend” and worship there) to a pricey Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort vacation.
“They charge more than Disney to get in,” said @jen2984.
“Mormons Temple tickets cost more than Disney World,” @honey_comb1993 replied.
Others shared their experiences interacting with the Washington D.C. Temple.
“When we first moved to the DMV, we didn’t know what it was,” @elaw381 commented. “My daughter was 3 and kept calling it the princess castle and wanted to go meet her. We decided to drive to it one day just to show her. Lots of Mormons, no princesses. They were really nice to my kid though and told her the princess was away on important business and let us take pictures.”
“They actually put on a pretty display at Christmas you can go see,” said @gsdmom04. “It’s called the Washington DC Temple Festival of Lights.”
Interestingly, The Walt Disney Company once had plans to build a theme park in Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. This planned park, known as “Disney’s America,” would have focused on American history and featured attractions, hotels, a golf course, and even housing. Announced in 1993 and scheduled to open in 1998, the park was ultimately canceled due to local opposition and concerns over building an amusement park near historic sites and battlefields.
Does the Washington D.C. Temple look like Disneyland Park’s Sleeping Beauty Castle? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
